Recreational Therapists Salary in New York, NY-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Median annual salary $64,680 +7.3% vs national
Median hourly $31.10
10th percentile $48,750
90th percentile $90,920
Employed locally 1,110
National median $60,280

Compare Recreational Therapists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New York, NY-NJ stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Recreational Therapists
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $48,750
    25th
    $54,880
    50th (median)
    $64,680
    75th
    $79,040
    90th
    $90,920

    New York economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $97,334 2023 • Census ACS
    Recreational Therapists salary vs area income 66% Median Recreational Therapists salary is 34% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Recreational Therapists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Napa, CA $107,810
    Vallejo, CA $102,640
    Stockton-Lodi, CA $102,640
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $100,820
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $100,360
    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $96,530

    Nearby metros — Recreational Therapists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $100,820
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $68,540
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $61,830
    Syracuse, NY $60,950
    Rochester, NY $57,620
    Utica-Rome, NY $55,560

    Related occupations in New York, NY-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses$113,490
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$72,800
    Pharmacy Technicians$43,470
    Pharmacists$135,720
    Nurse Practitioners$152,790
    Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$80,580

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Recreational Therapists make per hour in New York?

    The median hourly wage for Recreational Therapists in New York, NY-NJ is $31.10, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $46.07 or more per hour.

    Is New York above or below average for Recreational Therapists salaries?

    The median Recreational Therapists salary in New York, NY-NJ is 7.3% above the national median of $60,280. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Recreational Therapists in New York?

    Entry-level Recreational Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $48,750 per year in New York, NY-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $54,880.